Written by Sean Badenhorst [191 hits]
 The 2008 Mazda MTN National Marathon Mountain Bike Series is set for an exciting finale at the Mazda MTN 50 Miler, which takes place in Hilton on Sunday, 9 November.
Aiming for his fourth consecutive Series title is current South African champion, Kevin Evans, but he’s got the virtual who’s who of the sport out to topple him, if not in the Series rankings, then at least in Sunday’s 78km race, which is a new event on the Series calendar.
Expect the biggest challenge to come from the in-form DCM Chrome pair of Brandon Stewart and Max Knox.
Both have taken the racing to Evans and his MTN Energade teammates in the past few weeks at the Dirty Harry Marathon in Harrismith, the Chandelier Marathon in Oudtshoorn and the Addo Marathon near Port Elizabeth. Knox won the Harrismith event (where Stewart punctured) while Stewart out sprinted Evans for the Addo title last Sunday after Knox had punctured while co-leading the race with them. And both Stewart and Knox succumbed to punctures at the Chandelier event while in podium contention.
“Yep, had a bit of bad luck recently, but my win at Addo last week showed my form is good and I’m motivated to have a good race at the 50 Miler. I haven’t won a Series event yet this year and would like to try and win this one on home terrain,” said Stewart, shortly after having ridden the race route on Wednesday.
It’s definitely a tough route. I’ll be surprised if the winning time is under three-and-a-half hours. It’s a very busy course because you have no time to relax or recover. I think it’s well balanced and will provide a very complete mountain biking challenge.
Evans’s teammate, Melt Swanepoel, currently lying in second place in the Series will look to make the most of his good late-season form and will be MTN Energade’s main hope for the race win should Evans falter after a long season that included an impressive road racing stint abroad in August and September.
Not one to miss a major race in his home province when he’s in the country, international cross-country star, Burry Stander (Mr Price GT), will be on the start line too. The Under-23 world championships silver medallist has completed a tough international season, but is ever the competitor and a definite podium contender at any race he enters.
Others expected to challenge for top places include Francois Theron and Marc Bassingthwaighte (both Garmin DCM), Johnny Kritzinger (Schwinn) and John Paul Pearton.
 Beijing Olympian, Yolande Speedy (IMC Activeworx), is the favourite to capture the women’s race title on Sunday. Her dominant win at the recent Hill2Hill event, held in the same province, confirmed she is a cut above the other women at present and will be difficult to beat, especially since the course is relatively technical compared to most marathon events.
Of course in mountain biking, nothing is a given and a long list of women will be in contention for the podium places, including current series leader, Carla Rowley (MTN Energade), Tania Raats (Fox Maverick), winner of the previous Series event in Oudtshoorn, and the Garmin DCM duo of Yolandi du Toit and Samantha Oosthuizen.
With the depth of women’s racing increasing at an encouraging rate, expect the likes of Shawna Thunder (The Leigh Group) and talented juniors Caitlin de Wet (Red Mongoose) and Mariske Strauss to also feature in the top placings.
Rowley has a solid lead in the Series rankings going into the final round, but Raats and Oosthuizen, in second and third respectively, are sure to mount a serious last-gasp challenge for the title.
Twelve different landowners have given permission for the event to traverse their land, making for a fresh, interesting route that includes wattle and pine forests, sugar cane fields, indigenous bush and farmlands. There are also spectacular views of Pietermaritzburg, Albert Falls Dam and the Umgeni River Valley.
The popular Ferdevco Half-marathon Series will also culminate with a 37km distance-event on Sunday. Eighteen-year-old Genee Steyn looks to have the Women’s Series wrapped up, but will be challenged by arch-rivals Beatrice Hogan and Mylene Lomeau for the race win.
Bryce Munro (DCM Chrome) holds a big lead in the Men’s Series and will start as the favourite to occupy the top step of the podium in Hilton, although he’ll be wary of a crop of younger rivals led by Travis Slingerland and Arno du Toit, second and third respectively in the Series rankings.
There will also be an Aquelle 21km fun ride and the Grace College kid’s 5km ride, so all levels of mountain biker will be catered for. Online entry has closed, but late entries will be taken at registration at Grace College, Hilton on Saturday 8 November from 15h00–17h00 and on Sunday 9 November from 06h30–0815.
For more information, call 083 MTN MAZDA / 083 686 62932. or Click here |
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